Pharmacy Intern Counseling

Started by PharMed2016
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PharMed2016

PharMed2016

Eternal Scholar
Verified Member
Physician
Pharmacist
15+ Year Member
This was an interesting question that was asked of me by my classmates. How many states allow pharmacy interns to counsel (under the supervision of the pharmacist)? I know NY allows their interns to counsel however PA doesn't allow their interns to counsel. I've tried looking for an all-inclusive list but have yet been able to. Anyone?

:laugh:

Interesting thing is they have at least a number for pharmacy interns giving immunization but not counseling.
 
PharMed2016 said:
This was an interesting question that was asked of me by my classmates. How many states allow pharmacy interns to counsel (under the supervision of the pharmacist)? I know NY allows their interns to counsel however PA doesn't allow their interns to counsel. I've tried looking for an all-inclusive list but have yet been able to. Anyone?

:laugh:

Interesting thing is they have at least a number for pharmacy interns giving immunization but not counseling.
Click to expand...

hmm that is interesting. not sure where you could find a list like that. OH allows it, ftr.
 
PharMed2016 said:
Seriously, PA is so backwards with regards to pharmacy law. We can't counsel or give immunizations. At least were not suppose to lol. :laugh:
Click to expand...

Where does it spell out whether we can or cannot counsel? I am just curious.
 
no counselling for interns in PA??? thats totally ridiculous. So are interns glorified techs?

And I thought NY was over-regulated.
 
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Wow, just looked through the whole Pharmacy Act and you're right. No wonder my PDM was pissed at me when I was counseling people (though I do it all the time otherwise).

I do know that it's legal for interns to take phoned-in orders (source: PPA) as of last year. Otherwise there isn't much legal difference between interns and techs.
 
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Be careful how you define counseling? It doesn't mean you can't answer any questions. It means you can't counsel as defined by The Pennsylvania Code:
[SIZE=+1]§ 27.19. [/SIZE]Prospective drug review and patient counseling.




(1) An offer to counsel shall be made to each patient or caregiver when the pharmacist fills, delivers or sends a new retail or outpatient prescription.
(2) The pharmacist or designee of the pharmacist shall orally make the offer in person if a patient or caregiver comes to the pharmacy. If the pharmacist in the exercise of professional judgment in the interest of a patient believes that an oral offer would be less effective than a written offer, the pharmacist may substitute a written offer. The following are examples of situations in which a pharmacist might substitute a written offer:
(i) The patient or caregiver is hearing impaired.
(ii) The patient or caregiver is not an English speaker.
(3) If neither the patient nor caregiver comes to the pharmacy, the offer to counsel shall be made in one of the following ways:
(i) The pharmacist or designee may telephone the patient or caregiver.
(ii) The pharmacy delivery person may orally make the offer to the patient or caregiver.
(iii) The pharmacist may send a written offer to counsel together with the filled prescription which is delivered or sent to the patient.
(4) A written offer to counsel must include the telephone number of the pharmacy.
(5) A pharmacy shall provide toll-free telephone service if its primary patient population is beyond the local or toll-free exchange.
(6) A mail order pharmacy shall make the offer to counsel either by telephone or by sending a written offer together with the filled prescription. The written offer must include a toll-free telephone number of the pharmacy which a patient or caregiver may use to obtain counselling.
(7) The obligation to make an offer to counsel will be fulfilled by making one offer in accordance with this subsection.
(e) Counselling.
(1) Only a pharmacist may counsel.
(2) If a patient or caregiver who comes to the pharmacy indicates that he wants counseling, the pharmacist shall counsel the patient or caregiver in person, or, at the discretion of the patient or caregiver, by telephone.
(3) If the filled prescription is sent or delivered to the patient or caregiver, counselling shall be by telephone.
(4) The following are examples of matters which a pharmacist in the exercise of professional judgment might deem significant and discuss with the patient or caregiver:
(i) The name and description of the medication.
(ii) The route of administration, dosage form and duration of drug therapy.
(iii) Special directions and precautions for preparation, administration and use by the patient.
(iv) Common severe side effects or interactions and therapeutic contraindications that may be encountered, including their avoidance, and the action required if they occur.
(v) Techniques for self-monitoring drug therapy.
(vi) Proper storage.
(vii) Prescription refill information.
(viii) Action to be taken in the event of a missed dose.
(5) If a pharmacist discovers a specific problem with a medication during the course of a PDR, the pharmacist shall intervene to attempt to resolve the problem.
 
Directly from Pharmacy Act:

(3) A pharmacy intern working under the direct, immediate, personal supervision of a pharmacist may perform procedures which require professional skill and training. Examples of these procedures include: verifying ingredients, weighing ingredients, compounding ingredients and other similar processing of ingredients.

These examples are only dispensing related.

As you posted, only a pharmacist can counsel (in that long post you made), all interns (and techs) can do is make the offer ("do you have any questions for the pharmacist").

Yes I am aware that interns counsel in practice. Was just trying to find out why the new PDM didn't like me counseling. I guess this is why.

On the other hand, Delaware pharmacy law clearly gives counseling as an example of what an intern can do under the guidance of a pharmacist.

And seems like answering questions is counseling.
(2) If a patient or caregiver who comes to the pharmacy indicates that he wants counseling, the pharmacist shall counsel the patient or caregiver in person, or, at the discretion of the patient or caregiver, by telephone.
So if the patient has questions, that would be counseling.
 
Who cares? It's not like they are a medical intern diagnosing and ordering tests/drugs without the attending's supervision.

90% of retail pharmacy questions consist of "My nose is running and I have a cough, what can I take for it?" or "My child has diarrhea, what should I do?" or "Should I take my antibiotic with food?" or "What's the difference between a humidifier and a vaporizer?"

It's not like they are making life or death decisions.
 
the states I know you can counsel while an intern is IA,IL, and TX...usually it states it in the pharmacy state board rules. In IA and TX intern can also give immunizations with supervision.
 
If there is one thing I love about AZ, it is that many things are very lax and not just in the pharmacy world. Doing things here is easy and pharm students get to do a lot. Although we just got the right to immunize so that part was a bit behind. We are all getting certified next week. Should be fun...
 
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